Skirt marker



M h 3, 19 4; J. BUKOVSKY SKIRT MARKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1962 INVENTOR. m flew M SKIRT MARKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1962 4 {iii}: iii HF 1| Q N INVENTOR. 4

March 3, 1964 J. BUKOVSKY SKIRT MARKER 5 Sheets$heet 3 Filed March 29, 1962 INVENTOR $45 Mask March 3, 3964 BUKOVSKY 3,122,834

SKIRT MARKER Filed March 29, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ea E312 INVENTOR.

March 3, 1964 Y BUKOVSKY 3,122,834

SKIRT MARKER Filed March 29, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. balm MM/ United States Patent 3,122,834 Slim! MARKER 30hr! Bukovs Canadian Research & Development Foundation, 1437 Van Horne Ave., Montreal, Quebec,

Canada Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,527 6 tllaims. (Cl. 33-9) This invention relates to improvements in dressmaking aids, and in particular to improvements in skirt marking devices.

Such devices of the prior art are mainly devoted to applying markings in chalk to the outer surface of the skirt, such markings being necessarily wide and liable to blurring, thus leading to considerable discrepancies and, in some instances, resulting in an uneven hemline being formed.

To overcome this difficulty, other devices are adapted to hold the skirt material, and provide a guide for the insertion of straight pins therein, but this too has the disadvantage that the person wearing the skirt must bend over in order to insert each pin and then straighten up to obtain the correct length for the next marking point.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a skirt marker which will mark the correct height of hem for a skirt by thread means.

It is another object of the invention to provide a skirt marker which will provide any desired number of marks on a skirt, each of which is entirely separate from the others.

A further object of the invention is to provide a skirt marker which is operated by the person wearing the skirt to be hemmed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a skirt marker, the thread means of which provides an extremely accurate marking and is easily removable after the hemming operation is completed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a skirt marker which is readily adjustable in height and having an easily readable scale.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a skirt marker which may be operated by a person wearing the skirt while remaining in the upright position.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skirt marker embodying the present invention shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the slide mechanism incorporated in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a mid vertical, sectional side elevation of the skirt marker as shown in FIG. 1, shown in the starting position, in preparation for use.

FIG. 4 is a mid vertical, sectional side elevation of the skirt marker as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 after having been operated and during the insertion of the marking stitch.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the thread pulling and cutting mechanism, located on the interior surface of the inner wall of the present invention; additional thread holding mechanism located in a sldrt-holding flap being illustrated in phantom; the whole assembly being shown in its relative position during the formation of a marking loop of thread.

FIG. 6 is a fractional plan view of the mechanisms illustrated in FIG. 4 shown in their relative positions during the severing of the thread after the formation of a marking loop.

FIGS. 7 to 12 inclusive provide a series of six diagrammatic sketches showing plan views of the skirt marker during the various phases of its operation.

FIG. 13 is a fractional, mid vertical, sectional side ele- 3,122,834 Patented Mar. 3, 15964 vation of the invention showing a preferred method of exposing the needle actuating mechanism for threading and servicing.

Referring to FIG. 1, a skirt marker It) includes a stand 11; a body member 12 slidable within said stand 11; a flap 13 hingedly attached to body member 12 at the lower end thereof; and an operating slide mechanism 14, slidable within said body member 12 and having a cushioned hand grip 15 protecting the upper edge thereof.

An aperture 16, formed through an inner wall 17 of body member 12 adjacent the upper edge 17:: thereof, is adapted to permit a sewing machine needle 13 to reciprocate therethrough and to form a loop of thread through the skirt of a dress or the like.

A knurled lock nut 19 is adapted to maintain body member 12 at any desired height within stand 11, thereby determining the height at which the marking stitches through aperture 16 will be applied to skirt 79. A fixed scale 24) inscribed on stand 11, in combination with an indicator line 21 formed on body member 12, permits an operator to determine the height above the ground at which the stitches will be placed in the skirt.

Stand 11 comprises two sides pedestals 22 and 23 held in parallel, spaced apart relationship by an outer wall 24, the latter being shown more fully in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Body 12 is of open-ended, elongated rectangular, boxlike construction, the side walls 25 and 26 thereof being in slidable contact with, and held between, pedestals 22 and 23 respectively. An outer wall 27, is in slidable contact with outer wall 24 of stand 11. Inner wall 17, as previously described, is oppositely located to outer Wall 27 and, although all the upper edges of body 12 are substantially coplanar, inner Wall 17 is shorter than the remaining three walls of body 12, thereby forming a gap 2-19 at the lower end thereof.

A vertical slot 28 is formed through outer wall 24 of stand 11 and extends for a major portion of the length thereof. A threaded stud 29 extends from outer wall 27 of body 12 through slot 28 and is slidably cooperable therein. Knurled nut 19 is threadedly engaged with stud 29; the tightening of nut 19 locking body member 12 in relation to stand 11, and the slackening of nut 19 permitting longitudinal adjustment thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, operating slide 14 comprises a flat rectangular plate 31 adapted to slide in surface to surface contact with the inner surface of outer wall 27, being retained in this plane by a plurality of blocks 32 extending inwardly from side walls 25 and 26 and shown in dotted detail in FIG. 2.

A longitudinal slot 33 is formed through plate 31, its minimum length being determined by the length of stroke required to operate the remainder of the mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Slide 14 is resiliently loaded in the upward direction by means of a coil spring 34 which is anchored to the bottom of slide 14 at the one end and to a pin 35 at the opposite end, pin 35 extending inwardly from rear Wall 27 of body member 12 through slots 33. The upward travel of slide 14 is limited by a stop 36, formed on the inner surface of slide 14, contacting the underside of one of said guide blocks 32 suitably located to provide the necessary limitation. A transverse plate 37 is located on the inner surface of outer wall 27 across the bottom end thereof, providing a lower stop to limit the downward travel of slide 14.

Slide 14 also carries two transverse bars 38 and 39 adapted to extend across slot 33, the uppermost bar 38 being closer to slide 14 than lowermost bar 39. A fiat beam 40, supported by two oppositely located side blocks 41 and 42 also extends transversely of slot 33 in parallel, spaced apart relationship with the innermost surface of slide 14. Beam 4% is held spaced apart from slide 14 for substantially the same distance as lower bar 39.

A bifurcated bracket 43 having an upper member 44 and a lower member 45 extends outwardly from and at right angles to slide 14, below beam 46, adjacent sidewall 26 of body member 12.

A guide bracket 46 also extends outwardly from side 14 and at right angles thereto, at a location substantially below bracket 43 and on the side of slide 14 adjacent sidewall of body member 12.

A flat cam plate 47 is held remote from, and parallel to, slide 14 by a plurality of conventional distance pieces 43.

A conventional sewing machine bobbin 49, loaded with thread 50, is held adjacent the inner surface of slide 14 and is mounted on a screw 51 adapted to pass through slot 33 in slide 14. Screw 51 extends from outer wall 27, and adjacent the upper edge thereof. The shank 18a of sewing machine needle 18 is held in a cylindrical block 52 which is freely slidable in a tubular guide 53.

The eye 18]) of needle 18 is located adjacent the open end 5311 of tube53 upon block 52 being located in its fully outward position. Reciprocation of block 52 and, therefore, of needle 18, within tube 53 is effected by means of a rod 54 hingedly attached to the undersurface of block 52. The lower portion of tube 53 is slotted longitudinally to permit free passage of the upper end of rod 54 therethrough.

An L-shaped operating lever 55, having a substantially vertical arm 56 and a substantially horizontal arm 57, is pivotally attached to the inner surface of outer wall 27 and is spanned by slot 33 in slide 14. Rod 54 is telescopically assembled within upper, vertical arm 56, so that depression of lower portion 57 of lever 55 causes it to move arcuately downwardly and upper arm 56, therefore, to move arcuately inwardly, the telescopic arrangement as described enabling the overall, combined length of upper arm 56 and rod 54 to change as required to allow the upper end of rod 54 attached to block 52 to move in a straight line while the remainder of lever 55 moves arcuately.

The horizontal arm 57 of lever 55 is caused to move arcuately downwardly, by means of beam striking its upper surface, upon slide 14 being pushed downwardly; and transverse bar 38 is adapted to return lever 55 to its normal position by contacting the inner surface of upper arm 56 in close contiguity upon said slide 14 being released and allowed to move upwardly. Bar 39 is adapted to carry a coil spring 58 therearound, its end legs extending substantially radially outwardly to contact beam 4% at the one side and vertical arm 56 of lever 55 at the other side, thereby ensuring a smooth, positive action of lever 55 and, ultimately, of needle 18.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that full depression of slide 14 results in maximum extension of needle 18 and, upon release, slide 14 moves, under the influence of spring 34, to its fully up position, to fully retract needle 18.

From FIG. 1 it will be seen that flap 13 must have its upper end 13a spaced apart from the upper end of body member 12 upon a person wishingto insert the hem of a skirt therebetween, but for the marking process it is also essential that said hem be held firmly against body member 12. To accomplish this, flap 13 is hinged at the lower end of body member 12 and a lever 59 extends from flap 13, through gap 30, into the interior body of member 12. A spring guide rod 60 is pivotally attached to the innermost end of lever 59 and extends upwardly to pass slidably through a hole 61 formed through guide bracket 46 on slide 14. A compression type coil spring 62 extends between the undersurface of bracket 46 and the end of lever 59, guide rod 60 passing axially through spring 62 to maintain the latter in substantially axial alignment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, depression of slide 14 is transmitted through bracket 46 and spring 62 to lever 59 which, in turn, is caused to move arcuately downwardly resulting in flap 13 moving arcuately inwardly toward inner wall 17 of body member 12. Flap 13 and wall 17 become contiguous prior to slide 14 being fully depressed. Further downward movement of slide 14 is permitted, however, by spring 62 becoming more fully compressed and this action also serves to hold flap 12 and wall 17 in greater pressural engagement. It will be evident that any material, such as a skirt hem, which may have been inserted therebetween, will be held very firmly in position.

Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that flap 13 is substantially hollow, forming a cavity 63 in which a flat arm 64 may move arcuately about a pivot pin 65, the latter securing the lower part of arm 64 adjacent the bottom edge of flap 13. A pin 65 extends at right angles to arm 64 and is adapted to pass through gap 36 into the body of member 12 and the location of pin 65 is such that it is struck by cam plate 47 upon movement of slide 14.

Cam plate 47 is contoured to move pin 65 and to hold it in a second position for a length of time, until slide 14 has practically completed its return stroke, whereafter it is released immediately prior to flap 13 moving arcuately away from body member 12 as described.

The movement of pin 65 is greatly magnified at the upper end of arm 64 which is adapted to carry a finger 66. A spring-loaded, resilient pad 67 is located at one side of flap 13 and is adapted to yielda ly receive finger 66 before the completion of its full arcuate movement, so that finger is in pressural contact with pad 67 during the time that pin 65 is held in its second position as described. A small tension spring 68 extends from arm 64 to the body of flap 13 to maintain pin 65 in close contact with cam plate 47 at all times.

The inner surface of side 17 of body member 12 carries a thread-pulling and severing mechanism 69, shown more fully in FIGS. 5 and 6, comprising a centrally slotted, flat plate 70 retained in vertically slidable contact with side 17 by a longitudinal centre strip 71 held spaced apart from side 17. A blade 72 is aflixed to the upper edge of plate 70, its cutting edge 72a facing upwardly. Operation of plate 76 is effected by means of a pin 73 extending outwardly therefrom to lie between upper and lower members 44 and 45 of bracket 43.- It will be noted that the space between members 44 and 45 is greater than the width of pin 73 so that, upon slide 14 being pushed down, upper member 44 contacts pin 73 to move plate 70 downwardly, and upon release of slide 14, the latter moves upwardly a predetermined distance prior to lower member 45 contacting pin 73 to move plate 70 upwardly.

It should be noted that the length of stroke of plate 70 is sufficient to carry blade edge 72a for a distance above aperture 16 at the top of the stroke and well below it at the bottom of the stroke.

A pivoted crank lever 74 is pivoted on the upper end of centre strip 71 and is adapted to move in a plane closely paralleling that of plate 70. One leg 74:: of lever 74 is retained between two spaced apart pegs 75 and 76 which protrude at right angles from the upper end of plate 76, thereby translating linear travel of plate 70 into rotational movement of lever 74. The other leg 74b of lever 74 carries a shallow hooked end 77, the arc of movement of hook 77 being adapted to carry it past aperture 16,

'and the open end of hook 77 facing in the direction of rotation attained upon plate 70 being moved upwardly.

A stop 78 is located below lever 74, also mounted on centre strip 71, and is adapted to limit the arcuately downward travel of arm 74b of lever '74 in order to prevent inadvertent disengagement of arm 74a from between pegs 75 and 76.

FIGS. 7 to 12 inclusive illustrate the operational sequence of skirt marker 10, and the description thereof should be read in conjunction with the relevant, previously described FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive.

Referring to FIG. 7, marker 10 is shown at rest as in FIGS. 1 and 3, with slide 14 extended fully upwards. Flap 13 is at its maximum distance away from side 17 of body member 12 and a skirt hem 79 or the like is inserted between flap 13 and side 17. Needle 18 is fully housed within tubular guide 53, by means of full retraction of block 52, its pointed end 18b being threaded with thread 50 from bobbin 49. In this position, severing mechanism 69 is also in its fully up position, with blade 72 covering aperture 16. Spring 62 is, of course, fully relaxed, permitting flap 13 to be in the position described.

FIG. 8, in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5, shows the state of the mechanism upon slide 14 being fully depressed by handle 15, wherein bracket 46 has compressed spring 62, which, through lever 59, has caused flap 13 to swing arcuately upwardly to firmly hold hem 79 between it and side 17 of body 12. At the same time, cam plate 47, although initially causing arm 64 to move across the axial extension 1611 to aperture 16 formed through flap 13, provides for arm 64 and its finger end 66 to be at its maximum distance away from aperture 160 upon end 181) of needle 18 passing through aperture 16, hem 79 and aperture 16a of flap 13 to enter cavity 63 in flap 13. Prior to needle 18 passing through aperture 16, upper member 44 of bracket 43 on slide 14 has contacted pin 73 of severing mechanism 69, moving blade 72 to a location below aperture 16, and peg 75 has contacted leg 74a of lever 74 causing leg 74b to move arcuately away from aperture 16. The extension of needle 18 is effected by beam 40 contacting horizontal arm 57 of lever 55 and, as previously described under FIGS. 3 and 4, the downward arcuate movement of arms 57 results in linear travel of block 52 in tubular guide 53.

It will be seen, therefore, that maximum depression of slide 14 results in end 18b of needle 18 carrying thread 56 being located in cavity 63 of flap 13, in close adjacency to pad 67, after having passed through hem 79.

FIG. 9 illustrates the state of the mechanism upon initial relaxation of pressure on slide 14 permitting it to move slightly upwardly. Cam plate 47 contacting pin 65 causes arm 64 to move rapidly across the upper end of cavity 63 and finger 66 to begin to engage thread 58'. Due to the gap between members 44 and 45 of bracket 43, there is no movement transferred to severing mechanism 69 during this particular part of the operation. Spring 62 remains sufiiciently compressed to maintain flap 13 up and in firm contact with hem 79.

FIG. shows the relative positions of needle 18, finger 66 of arm 64, and severing mechanism 69, upon pressure on hand grip 15 being sufliciently relaxed to permit slide 14 to move approximately half way out of body member 12. In this instance, needle 18 is retracted to a position where threaded end 18b is about to enter tubular guide 53. Thread 56 is held by finger 66 so that a loop 80 of thread 50 remains in cavity 63 of flap 13, it will be noted that the end 51):: of thread Silt remains inside body member 12 at all times. At the same time, hooked end 77 of bell crank lever 74, under the influence of peg 76 contacting leg 74b, is about to contact thread 50 extending between end 18b of needle 18 and finger 66 of arm 64 within flap 13.

Blade 72 is still a short distance below aperture 16 at this juncture.

FIG. 11 shows that, from the position as described in FIG. 10, further upward travel of slide 14 results in finger 66 holding loop 80 of thread 50 in close, pressural contact with resilient pad 67. Substantially simultaneously, hooked end 77 of lever 74 strikes thread 50 and, as needle 18 further retracts into guide tube 53, further arcuate movement of hook 77 causes thread 50 to pull through end 18b of needle 18, said thread 56 being supplied frorn bobbin 49.

Thus, a sufficient new supply of thread 50 is drawn through end 18b of needle 18 and this thread 50 is held relatively tautly in preparation for the severing action which, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 12, is carried out by edge 72a of blade 72 on the final portion of upward travel of mechanism 69. At the same time, cam plate 47 presents a dwelled portion of its profile opposite pin 65 and arm 64 taking finger 66 with it, returns to its location adjacent one edge of flap 13. Loop of thread 50*, is, therefore, left standing free, retained only by hem 79.

It is only at this juncture that spring 62 is sufiiciently relaxed to permit flap 13 to fall arcuately away from side 17 of body member 12 to allow hem 79 to go free.

Thus it will be obvious that, in order to mark a skirt or the like with a line of loops 80, all at one specified height above ground level, it is merely necessary for a person wearing the skirt to set aperture 16 at the required height by slackening nut 19, setting body member 12 in the required position as indicated by line 21 against scale 29, and relocking nut 19. Then, by allowing hem 79 of said skirt to fall between flap 13 and body member 12, a simple push and relax movement applied to handle 15 of slide 14, by the wearer of the skirt, results in a loop 80 being formed through hem 79. It should also be noted that these loops 81} enter and leave hem 79 through the same hole and is, therefore, very easily removed after use.

FIG. 13 illustrates a preferred means of access to needle 18 and its associated mechanism in which outer wall 27 of body member 12 is divided transversely at a location on substantially the same horizontal plane as the hinge attachment between operating lever 55 and wall 27. As shown in FIG. 2, slot 33 in slide 14 may be enlarged in the vicinity of bobbin '49 upon slide 14 being at the top of its stroke so that, upon the upper portion 27a of wall 27 being hingedly attached to the remainder of wall 27, it may be moved arcuately outwardly and downwardly. Bobbin 49 and tubular guide 53 are able to pass through slot 33 in slide 14 at this point, and as bars 38 and 39 and beam 49 remain behind a slide 14, operating lever 55 may be moved freely about its pivot point to permit block 52 to be removed from guide 53 for the removal and replacement of needle 18. Furthermore, it provides easy access to end 18b of needle 18 for the threading therethrough of thread 50. Suitable, conventional catch means, not illustrated, is provided to lock upper portion 27a in coplanar alignment with the remainder of outer wall 27 upon it being required to operate skirt marker 10.

The general design of the individual parts of the invention as explained above may be varied according to requirements in regards to manufacture and production thereof, while still remaining within the spirit and principle of the invention, without prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A skirt marker including a stand; a body member slida'ole within said stand; said body member having a first wall; a flap hingedly attached to the lower end of said body member and movable through an arc to lie in close contiguity with said first wall of said body member; resilient means for the operation of said flap; said first wall and said flap being apertured, said apertures being in axial alignment; a sewing machine needle having a shank and an eye end reciprocatable within said body memher, said eye end passing axially in and out of said apertures; means for effecting the reciprocation of said needle; spool means and thread, said thread having one end threaded through said eye end of said needle; means for catching and retaining a loop of said thread within said flap upon withdrawal of said needle from said apertures; means for pulling said thread from said spool means through said eye upon said loop being held by said catching and retaining means; means for severing said thread operable upon said thread being pulled through said eye and said eye approaching a position most remote from said apertures; and means for the sequential operation of said flap, said needle, said thread catcher, said thread puller and said thread severing means.

2. A skirt marker as defined in claim 1 in which said sequential operating means includes a slide plate slidable Within said body member; a guide bracket extending outwardly from said slide plate cooperable with said resilient means for the operation of said flap; a bracket assembly extending outwardly from said slide plate; rod means extending outwardly from said thread severing means and cooperable with said bracket assembly for the operation of said severing means; a cam plate held spaced apart from said slide plate; pin means extending inwardly from said thread catching means and held in resilient contact with the contoured edge of said cam plate; operating lever means hingedly attached to said body member; a beam integral with said slide plate cooperable with said operating lever to effect arcuate movement thereof; a retaining block for said shank of said needle; telescopic means interconnecting said operating lever with said retaining block; and tubular guide means for said retaining block to maintain said needle on a substantially straight, axial path.

3. A skirt marker as defined in claim 1 in which said thread pulling means comprises a bell crank lever having a first leg operable by said severing means and a second leg being hooked at the end thereof; said lever being pivotally attached to said body member and operable in a plane normal to the axes of said apertures, and the arc of travel of said hooked end passing through the line of axis of said apertures.

4. A skirt marker as defined in claim 2, said slide plate being biased resiliently upwardly, hand grip means formed on the upper edge of said slide plate; and stop means defining the operating range of said slide plates.

5. A skirt marker as defined in claim 2, said flap being hollow, forming a longitudinal cavity throughout the length thereof; said thread catching means including a lever extending substantially the length of said fiap within said cavity and pivotally attached to the lower end thereof; an upper end of said lever carrying a finger; said finger being movable by said lever in an arcuate path in a plane normal to the axis of said apertures; said finger passing slightly below said aperture through said flap; resilient pad means adjacent said aperture and cooperable with said finger in the retention of said loop of thread; and said pin means extending into said body member from adjacent the lower end of said lever.

6. A skirt marker as defined in claim 5, one wall of said body member carrying said spool, said tubular guide and said needle operating lever on the upper end thereof; said upper end being hingedly attached to the lower end of said wall; and releasable catch means retaining said upper and lower ends in coplanar relation.

No references cited. 

1. A SKIRT MARKER INCLUDING A STAND; A BODY MEMBER SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID STAND; SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING A FIRST WALL; A FLAP HINGEDLY ATTACHED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND MOVABLE THROUGH AN ARC TO LIE IN CLOSE CONTIGUITY WITH SAID FIRST WALL OF SAID BODY MEMBER; RESILIENT MEANS FOR THE OPERATION OF SAID FLAP; SAID FIRST WALL AND SAID FLAP BEING APERTURED, SAID APERTURES BEING IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT; A SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE HAVING A SHANK AND AN EYE END RECIPROCATABLE WITHIN SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID EYE END PASSING AXIALLY IN AND OUT OF SAID APERTURES; MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE RECIPROCATION OF SAID NEEDLE; SPOOL MEANS AND THREAD, SAID THREAD HAVING ONE END 